[anubisgrau]

I've just seen a great review of the CDP by Larry Cox at Positive Feedback. He rated it as the second best CDP he has heard, after EAR Acute.

I would appreciate to hear more thoughts about it from those who had a chance to hear this interesting product. I understand it shares a similar, belt-drive transport as 51XZ but has a better, upgraded DAC. At $1000 from Chinese exporters or $1600 in the US, I assume it should be one of the best purchases. My main concerns are a) reliability b) how it would rate against a direct competition within a price range - rega apollo/saturn, quad CDP-2, cambridge 840C and similar.

Cheers G.

[WEEZ]

It's the player I use. It's the best digital I've heard or owned. Period. I've yet to come across a disc it won't read; it's quiet as a tomb; it has been reliable; and it has NO digital 'nasties'. None.

Could it be bettered? I suppose. But not anywhere near the price. CAUTION: If you buy one from an exporter..you will not be able to get it serviced under warranty in the states, (if you need service which is unlikely, but..). Those units are not 110v; they are 100v and come with a transformer. I'd avoid that, if I were you. Write or call Mutine for dealer info. It's worth the peace of mind to buy one with the correct voltage and warranty, in my opinion.

WEEZ

ps: a friend who owns a Burmester that retails for $14k found no faults when he heard my CEC, fwiw.

[anubisgrau]

It's the player I use. It's the best digital I've heard or owned. Period. I've yet to come across a disc it won't read; it's quiet as a tomb; it has been reliable; and it has NO digital 'nasties'. None.

Could it be bettered? I suppose. But not anywhere near the price. CAUTION: If you buy one from an exporter..you will not be able to get it serviced under warranty in the states, (if you need service which is unlikely, but..). Those units are not 110v; they are 100v and come with a transformer. I'd avoid that, if I were you. Write or call Mutine for dealer info. It's worth the peace of mind to buy one with the correct voltage and warranty, in my opinion.

WEEZ

ps: a friend who owns a Burmester that retails for $14k found no faults when he heard my CEC, fwiw.

Weez,

Thanks for the post .

I may have a few more questions that only you as an owner can answer.

Is there anything you wish CEC 51XR could do better? I am actually interested in knowing what are the weak spots of the product?

Any idea about longevity of the belt as well as the transport in general?

Also, when you say it's the best you have heard, would you mind naming a few of those you feel are inferior to the CEC player.

Thanks for the tip on Mutiny - I would do that if I would be US based. I am aware of importance of a good support and a guarantee.

However in my part of the world there is no dealer nor distribution for CEC so I would need to order it from Ornec or similar. And it is stupidly cheap there, $1000 plus delivery.

Regards, Gordan

[The_KiD]

The TL-51XR is a tough act to beat.. A very musicial and enjoyable player.. I love my TL-5100 Transport..

KiD

[WEEZ]

Didn't realize you were not in the US...sorry about that

As to 'weak points' and 'longevity', I simply have no complaints. I use the thing every day. It's 9 months young. Maybe it'll crap-out tomorrow, who knows ..but I doubt it. There is no drawer mechanism to break; the 'puck' or 'stabilizer' is heavy and the unit probably wouldn't work without it ; it takes maybe 7 or 8 seconds to initialize (about the same as the Rega); hell, it just functions beautifully.

As to the sound; well, I will admit this is being subjective..but the sound of this player is very 'natural'. It's not a 'hyped' digital sound; nor is it 'creamy' or artificially smooth. It has superb resolution. It is harmonically complete. It has a very refined presentation. Imagine an Arcam with a bit more 'meat on the bones'. Or a Naim with just a bit less lumpiness in the bass. The sound is 'fuller' than the Rega Planet 2000 (never heard the Apollo)..more like the Jupiter in that regard (haven't heard the Saturn either). Better resolution than the Quad. Never heard the Cambridge 840, but if the 840 sounds anything like the 640, the CEC will be more refined sounding.

I shopped for 2 years for a cd player I could live with long term. I stopped when the CEC was installed. 

Hope this helps....

WEEZ

[anubisgrau]

Weez,

Thanks a lot for such a detailed info. It definitely sounds like a player for me , because other components I am using (ATC speakers, diff. preamps from EAR, Electrocompaniet and Promitheus) pretty much share some similar virtues to those you attributed to the CEC player.
I too have been trying for quite some time to find an upgrade from my slightly aged Thule 150B that became a weak link in my system.
My final question: the common objection to the sound of CEC players is bass performance. Apparently, a bit on a loose side, not as controlled or tight as it could be.
Any comments?
Cheers Gordan

[WEEZ]

I would disagree with the term 'loose'. I'd buy 'rich' and 'full', though.

WEEZ

[PaulHilgeman]

Imagine an Arcam with a bit more 'meat on the bones'.

Sounds like a good player to me by that description, thats my complaint with most arcam gear, the similarity of the brands' 'sound' is surprisingly coherent in their whole line-up.

I just sold my Ayre CX-7e, sounds like I might get one of these.

What is the best way to purchase one?

-Paul

[WEEZ]

Paul,

There are only a few dealers in the US. The North American distributor is Mutine. (www.mutine.com) An e-mail or a phone call will direct you to the nearest dealer. (Mutine is in Canada) Service center is in California.

In my case (I'm in TN) the closest dealer was SoundMindAudio in San Antonio!! It was worth the trouble, though. A really special player.

WEEZ

[anubisgrau]

It would be great if CEC would be more popular in Europe and US. I have a feeling that apart from well known transports they don't sell much here. Possibly one of the greatest examples what influence a lack of marketing hype can have on sales.

[NealH]

Do you have a link to the PF review, I don't see it on their website?

[WEEZ]

Paul,

(correction; Austin not San Antonio)

rnhood,

www.positive-feedback.com/Issue27/cec_tl51xr.htm

WEEZ

(hmmm, that should work, but it doesn't) If you Google the CEC TL-51XR, you should find it..

it works now

[NealH]

Thanks.  The link does not work but, I was able to go locate it from the info on your link (ie, issue 27).  It is a detailed and well written review.  I am sure it is a fine player but, the comments on "darkness" and/or lack of immediacy or sparkle in the treble worry me a bit.   While it's always somewhat difficult to intrepret someone else's perception, from reading this review I would say that it's a player I would definitely want to audition first. 

[WEEZ]

I became interested in this player after reading the review in StereoTimes on the predecessor..the XZ. I had communicated with an owner of the transport-only version around the same time and my interest was further 'peaked'.

My XR was reaching the 150+ hour mark when Larry Cox's review came out. I'm not as gifted a writer as Larry Cox; nor did I compare the XR to the units he did (out of my price range ). But the review of the XR (and XZ review) are accurate as to the 'sound' in an absolute sense. The comments regarding a lack of 'sparkle' must be taken in the context of comparison to the much more expensive players..because the XR has plenty of realism compared to any player anywhere near it's price. No question about it. Shopping for realistic digital playback was the hardest, most difficult audio shopping experience I have undertaken. Two painfull years..

Like I said, I'm done shopping for digital. Mo' betta analog might be next. That will be a bit easier, but I'm in no rush..

WEEZ

[anubisgrau]

With no direct listening experience, I would expect that a mentioned lack of "sparkle" should be associate with absence of any digital "flavour". "A sparkle" that you get from CDPs is most of the time something that gives you a headache and a fatigue after long listening.

But let's wait for a while, until I organize a purchase.

Weez, you said it was more detailed than Quad CDP. Do you mean 99 CDP-2? I rate this player very high to be honest and if C.E.C. is clearly a better contender than all the reviews are fully justified.

[WEEZ]

anubisgrau,

I would agree with your assesement equating 'sparkle' and digital 'flavour' with what might be considered 'fatigue'. IMO, good digital walks a fine line between extremes either way. Real music only has 'sparkle' when the instruments have 'sparkle'. Some players make everything 'sparkle' and it drives me nuts .

Let me be clear..I said I thought the CEC had better 'resolution' than the Quad..not more 'detail'. In my mind, they are related, but are not the same thing.  Resolution, to me, is the ability to untangle the complex tone and timbre of various instuments..and particularly, when many varied instruments are all playing different 'riffs' at one time. Not to be confused with 'detail'- like hearing a non-musical fart in the cello section.

WEEZ